In-Draft Thread - 2008

[Guest AG/DC]

You posted something that made me sad.

[Frayed Knot]

BA's Jim Callis re-does the NYM Prospect 'Top-10' in the wake of the recent draft (assuming all high picks sign)

1 - Fernando Martinez, OF
Still young and talented, but his lack of production may mean he's overhyped

** 2 - Ike Davis, 1b
Hulking lefthanded slugger can handle the outfield and pitch, too.

** 3 - Reese Havens, SS
More likely a third baseman or possibly a catcher, stands out with approach and pop.

4 - Jon Niese, LHP
Quietly having success in Double-A at age 21, he owns three solid pitches.

5 - Dan Murphy, 3B
Having a breakout year with a .325 average and eight homers in Double-A.

6 - Mike Carp, 1B
Back on track in Double-A after slumping in 2007, he's hitting .351 with nine homers.

7 - Eddie Kunz, RHP
Top 2007 pick has held his own in Double-A in his first full season.

** 8 - Brad Holt, RHP
2008 supplemental first-rounder can touch 96 mph, needs a reliable second pitch.

** 9 - Javier Rodriguez, OF
2008 second-rounder is a lean athlete with speed and projectable power.

10 - Nick Evans, 1B
Another Double-A masher (.295, nine homers), he destroys lefthanded pitching

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd like to see the Mets trade as few of these guys as possible. (Unless of course they bring us back Casey Hodges.)

The farm system could use a year or two without being purged. The Mets really do need to establish a pipeline. While I do mostly agree with the female breasts philosophy, I think they need to slow it down a bit, just for a little while.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think it's interesting that Rubin makes the point (or maybe he didn't, maybe that's my theory I'd applied to the article) that in this "age of parity" (revenue $-sharing, post-Moneyball, post-steroids) that it's more difficult than ever to simply overwhelm the competition on the basis of superior financial firepower alone, and that the Phillipsian strategy of going-for-it-every-year-while-cutting-any-and-all-corners is going to show.

That said, I think Omar shouldn;t be killed for the fact we have zero prospects when 4 of them were just dealt for Santana, and one basis for acquiring a pitcher via trade than FA signing was to allow for quick re-stocking. That and more $$/resources thrown around internationally hopefully makes up the gap quickly.

Five years ago today Jose Reyes makes his debut btw.

[Farmer Ted]

The Mets have agreed to terms with first-round draft choice Reese Havens, a shortstop from the University of South Carolina, SI.com has learned. The Mets will pay Havens, the 22nd overall pick in last week's amateur draft, a signing bonus of about $1.4 million.

Havens only has to compete a physical for the deal to be finalized.

No first-round signings have been announced yet.

The Mets also are close to signing their third pick, pitcher Brad Holt, from UNC-Wilmington, the 33rd overall pick, and are said to be making progress with their fourth pick, outfielder Javier Rodriguez from Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

Negotiations haven't yet begun with the Mets' first pick, first baseman Ike Davis from Arizona State University, whose team has been playing in the college playoffs. Davis was the 18th pick overall.

Havens hit .359 for South Carolina. He is considered a possible catcher down the road. The $1.4 million is roughly "slot'' money for the 22nd pick.

[Guest AG/DC]

Meet Scott Shaw, the new Bobby Parnell (only with worse numbers).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

More interesting draftees:

Jim Fuller, 21st round: 21 y.o., 5-10 lefty with 145/23 K/BB in 95 innings and a 0.99 ERA at Southern Connecticut State.
--Them are some holy shit stats. Beat it, Billy Wagner!

[Vic Sage]

i wonder how out of place Jacob Goldberg must have felt, pitching in Charleston.

sounds like an Alfred Uhry play to me.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jon Heyman, SI.com wrote: The Mets agreed to terms with their first pick of the first round, power hitting first baseman Ike Davis of Arizona State. It is believed Davis, the son of former Yankees reliever Ron Davis, received in the range of $1.5 million. The deal is pending a physical. Davis was the 18th pick overall and is expected to be assigned to New York's Class A Brooklyn Cyclones. Davis, a junior, batted .385 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Sun Devils this year. He also posted a .742 slugging percentage and .457 on-base percentage. The Mets had already signed their other first round draft pick, shortstop Reese Havens of the University of South Carolina, for $1.419 million. Havens was the 22nd pick of the draft.

[Frayed Knot]

So of the top picks that leaves their 2nd rounder unsigned (4th team pick - #68 overall) - OFer Javier Rodriguez from Puerto Rico
as well as their 4th rounder (6th team pick - 134th overall) OFer Sean Ratliffe from Stanford.

Otherwise, 9 of the first 11 are in the fold and 13 of the top 16.


Elsewhere, little of the 1st round has signed although the top overall pick inked up unusually early this year.

[Frayed Knot]

Analysis and video of 1st rounders Davis and Havens

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/breaking-down-the-draft/

[Frayed Knot]

Film and analysis of pick #33 - Brad Holt

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/breaking-down-the-draft-picks-27-35/

[Guest AG/DC]

Lost oppotunity theater.



Casey Hodges in the Appy League: 3-1, with a 0.60 ERA.

The good folks of Kingsport, Tennesee (2,112 of them, anyhow) got to spend Saturday watching Casey making the K-Mets look stupid.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t506&gid=2008_07_05_dnvrok_kptrok_1&cid=506&t=g_box